A few years ago, I wrote two blogs expressing concern that biblical counselors need to approach the very sensitive and important issue of abuse in a scripturally balanced way. You can find Part One here and Part Two here. I began the previous blogs with an acknowledgment that the church and biblical counselors have often […]
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Tag: abuse
Helping Adult Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse
Recent news reports have revealed the sad reality of several adult women who were victims of sexual misconduct by a man in spiritual leadership. The following article offers suggestions for the counselor who has the opportunity to counsel women in similar situations.1Though this article addresses female victims, men can also be victims of sexual abuse, […]
A Phased Reopening of a Formerly Abusive Marriage
During the COVID crisis, restrictions have been put in place which have sometimes kept people apart for the purpose of safety. For counseling cases in which there has been marital abuse the victim often must be separated from the abuser for the sake of safety. During this time, we counsel the abuser separate from the […]
The Battleship of Abuse
Do you remember playing the game Battleship when you were a kid? You would try to discover where your opponent had stationed his ships on a grid representing the ocean so you could shoot and sink them. One shot, however, wouldn’t sink a battleship. Some ships could be sunk with as few as two hits […]
Counseling Care for Domestic Abuse
I am VERY excited about the new IBCD observation video series on spousal abuse. Dr. Jeremy Pierre of Southern Seminary does an amazing job of portraying the subtle but coercive ways of the abuser. Chris Moles does a masterful job of confronting the abuser while gently educating the well-meaning pastor (played by Craig Marshall) on […]
Educating Your Elders About Abuse
Well-meaning church leaders often fail to distinguish between ordinary marital conflict and situations in which one spouse is abusing the other. The abusive spouse, usually the husband, is often able to manipulate inexperienced counselors by deflecting attention from his sin and focusing upon the sin of the mistreated spouse. Over time, as the oppression continues […]
Reporting Sexual Abuse
I have been involved in several counseling cases in which a grown woman reveals that she was sexually abused in her childhood. The circumstances were never reported to the authorities, nor had they been resolved in her own life. Typically, the perpetrator was a relative. When the abuse happened, the girl reported the incident to […]
Helping Churches to Better Handle Cases of Abuse
Sadly, I have been witness to a discouraging pattern in local churches as they handle cases involving abuse. It begins as church leaders are made aware of a situation in which a husband is acting abusively towards his wife, and it has been going on for quite some time. The abuse may include any or […]
The Abuse Pendulum (Part 2)
BCC Staff: Today we finish a two-part blog about domestic abuse by Dr. Jim Newheiser. He continues to evaluate common statements you hear about ministering to those who’ve experienced domestic abuse. We trust you will be challenged and equipped by what he offers. If you feel that you are being mistreated or controlled, leave the […]
The Abuse Pendulum (Part 1)
BCC Staff: Today and tomorrow we are running a two-part blog about domestic abuse by Dr. Jim Newheiser. He offers a lot of food for thought, and we hope you are well nourished by it. I am thankful to God that many necessary and important books and articles are being written to increase awareness of […]